Talk to me about supply please

[Doraemon]

I am in my 2nd year of teaching (primary), not really happy in my current school and looking to change in September. I am wondering about doing a year of supply just to get a bit more perspective on different schools - I did SCITT training in the school I had worked at as a TA for over 5 years, with one other 6 week placement in a different school, then started in my current school as an NQT. I am pretty sure where I am now is not where I want to be long term - ridiculous amount of paperwork and data analysis, refusal to allow us to use any scheme of work, entire curriculum has to be done from scratch and bespoke to the school, full written planning uploaded every week, all middle leaders (ie everyone apart from me) snowed under trying to produce copious documentation with no TLR or time out of class to do it in. But obviously I don't have much point of comparison to tell whether I would any happier in a different school. So I am wondering whether a period of supply would help me figure out what I actually do want to do. We could comfortably afford for me to earn less then I do now.
I am potentially interested in moving into SEN and also wondering whether secondaries are desperate enough for MFL staff that I might get some supply experience there? (previously taught one MFL at uni level and know a 2nd one well enough to teach KS3 and probably GCSE, also have TEFL experience). Would welcome any ideas/suggestions/advice/wisdom from anyone!

I did supply to go the other way (secondary to primary). Did a year on supply, mixed secondary and primary and then took a contract in a through school (independent) for a year and never left. I have been in charge of the prep school curriculum for the last 3 years, teach EYFS through to A level and love it. I would not have had this opportunity without some supply experience in primary.

Yes, you would probably find secondary schools that would bite your hand off as an MFL teacher. We are in the north where teacher shortages are perhaps not as acute as other areas but when I got this job, there was a long sigh of relief and a clamour to keep me after a long line of teachers who couldn’t hack it. People with degrees in MFL with poor grammar, others who just couldn’t manage a classroom with half the students in the average state school. I would see if you can get a day or so’s experience in secondary (might be able to blag it from a transition point of view? Having a chat about MFL curriculum needs with local Hods? If you are in a MAT, there may well be CPD and networking meetings you could get involved with). Get that on your CV and apply for some jobs. I am pretty sure supply agencies will sign you up without hesitation.

There are groups on Facebook - Secondary MFL Matters, Languages in Primary Schools and also there’s a MFL vacancies one.

Thanks for the reply, definitely sounds like it is a possible plan....

I'm a secondary MFL teacher and I've just registered to do supply. The agency have said that there's not much work for MFL and I'll most likely be doing general cover supervisor - so all subjects - most of the time. So I'm not convinced there's a huge demand for MFL to be honest. There is clearly lots of call for general supply work though and it might enable you get a feel for secondary teaching.

Thanks for your reply OldWivesTales - can I ask what part of the country you are in?

There isn’t much demand for any subject on a day to day basis given that schools want cheaper cover supervisors. There is a demand for longer term cover for planned absence, maternity leave etc.,